LSAT (Law School Admission Test)Logical ReasoningMedium
A recent study found that individuals who regularly engage in creative hobbies, such as painting or playing a musical instrument, report significantly lower stress levels than those who do not. A psychologist concludes that engaging in creative hobbies is an effective way to reduce stress.\n\nWhich of the following, if true, would most strengthen the psychologist's conclusion?
- AMany creative hobbies require a significant investment of time and resources.
- BThe study was conducted on a diverse group of participants from various age groups and socioeconomic backgrounds.
- CA follow-up study showed that individuals randomly assigned to take up a creative hobby experienced a measurable decrease in stress levels.
- DIndividuals with naturally lower stress levels are more likely to pursue creative hobbies.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. A follow-up study showed that individuals randomly assigned to take up a creative hobby experienced a measurable decrease in stress levels.
The psychologist makes a causal claim based on correlation. Option B describes an experimental design (random assignment) that directly tests the causal link by introducing the cause (creative hobby) and observing the effect (stress reduction), thus providing strong evidence for the conclusion.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This is an irrelevant detail about the practicalities of hobbies, not their effect on stress.
- B. This strengthens the *generalizability* of the study's findings, but not the *causal link* itself.
- D. This suggests reverse causation, which would *weaken* the conclusion.
Experimental Confirmation
Strengthening a causal argument by providing evidence from a controlled experiment where the independent variable is manipulated, and the resulting change in the dependent variable is observed.
- Random assignment helps control for confounding variables.
- Directly tests the 'cause and effect' relationship.
- Often involves a treatment group and a control group.
Memory trick: An experiment is the strongest proof of a cause.